Apparatus for inserting hooks or the like into curtain rails

ABSTRACT

The unit has members for holding it in position on a fixed curtain rail and for providing movement of curtain glide hooks along its length and onto the fixed curtain rail.

United States Patent Ill] I 1 1 I lnventor Lou's Bays Gurbru, Simmer-land Appl. No. 800,902 Filed Feb. 20, 1969 Patented Aug. 24, 1971 Assignee Henri Egger Bern, Switzerland a part interest APPARATUS FOR INSERTING HOOKS OR THE LIKE INTO CURTAIN RAILS 3 Claims, 19 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 16/873 lnt.Cl H ..A47h 13/12 Field ofSearch 16/87, 88,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 699,971 5/1902 Poschmann 16/87.4 2,317,531 4/1943 Hudson et a1 206/46 3,396,834 8/1968 Luckey et al. 206/46 Primary Examiner-Donald A. Gllffill Attorney-Shlesinger, Arkwright & Garvey ABSTRACT: The unit has members for holding it in position on a fixed curtain rail and for providing movement of curtain glide hooks along its length and onto the fixed curtain rail.

Patented Aug. 24, 1971 3,600,741

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Aug. 24, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 24, 1911 3,600,741

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 APPARATUS FOR INSERTING HOOKS OR THE LIKE INTO CURTAIN RAILS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to apparatus for the inserting of hooks or the like into an opening at the end of a fixed curtain rail in which the hooks are-adapted to run. Glide hooks are normally inserted into rails which have a box-shaped longitudinally slotted cross section, whereas roller hooks run on the flange of an I-section rail, although some types of glide hooks are adapted to run in an I-section rail.

The insertion of roller hooks and especially of plastic glide hooks into a fixed curtain rail is often a laborious task. This is more particularly the case when the rails are hidden in a casing or lintel and the open end is close to a wall. Frequently the light in such situations is poor and the glide hooks or roller hooks must be inserted one by one, an operation which is made more difficult by the weight of the curtain already attached to the hooks, and the height of the curtain rail.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the invention to provide apparatus for the purpose of facilitating this work.

The proposed device is a transfer unit which is insertable into the entry opening of the fixed curtain rail, and which is adapted at its free end to receive a loose length of curtain rail of the same cross section as the fixed curtain rail, the arrangement being such that the glide or roller hooks to which the curtain has been attached can be inserted into the loose length of rail in a convenient place and, after attachment of the loose length of rail to the deflecting element, transferred in one operation via the transfer unit into the fixed curtain rail.

The accompanying drawings, illustrate the manner in which the transfer unit facilitates the insertion of the glide or roller hooks onto the fixed curtain rail, and also illustrates a number of different forms of the proposed transfer unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view of part of a window fitted with ing a hidden curtain rail;

FIG. 2 is a transfer rail containing glide hooks to which a curtain has been attached;

FIG. 3 illustrates the manner of transferring the curtain from the transfer rail to the fixed curtain rail; V

FIG. 4 is a section of a casing containing a hidden curtain rail to one end of which, the transfer unit and the transfer rail have been attached;

FIGS. 5 and 6, are sections respectively taken on lines VV and VI-VI in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section of the transferunit shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view of the transfer unit of FIG. 7, seen in the direction of the arrow VIII;

FIG. 9 illustrates the manner in which the transfer unit is attached to the fixed rail;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the transfer scale;

FIG. 10a is a perspective view of another type of transfer unit used for insertion into a different type of rail;

FIG. 10b is an elevational view of another type of unit so designed that it can be securely hooked into the fixed rail by means of a hairpin-shaped spring;

FIG. We is a plan view of the device of FIG. 10;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the rail in FIG. 4, showing the entry opening for the insertion of the transfer unit;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing an I-section rail affixed to a casing, and showing the transfer unit and a transfer rail attached to the fixed rail;

FIG. 13 is a front view of the transfer unit of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a back view of the transfer unit of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of part of the rail and of the transfer unit of FIG. 12, without the transfer rail;

FIG. 16 is a side view illustrating the insertion of the transfer unit into the entry opening in the fixed rail;

a casing havunit on a larger DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION FIGS. 1 to 3 generally illustrate the method of using the transfer unit. FIG. 1 is a window F provided with a casing b in which a curtain rail is mounted. The rail is not therefore visible in FIG. I. A transfer unit I-I according to the invention is inserted into an opening in the bottom of the rail at one end thereof.

FIG. 2 shows a transfer rail into which glide hooks to which a curtain V is attached have been inserted. A transfer rail as used in this description is understood to be a loose length of rail having the same cross section as the fixed curtain rail into which the glide hooks and the curtain are to be transferred. The end of the transfer rail is fitted with arresting element A which prevents the glide hooks from sliding out of the transfer rail (in the case of roller hooks, from sliding out of the rail).

FIG. 3 illustrates the method of transferring the glide hooks. For this purpose one of the arresting elements A is detached from the transfer rail and this end of the transfer rail is inserted into the transfer unit H which functions as a connecting element. The glide hooks, together with the curtain suspended therefrom, can now be transferred in one sliding operation from the transfer rail to the fixed rail in the casing.

It will be observed that the transfer rail is not provided with a special opening for the insertion of the glide hooks. However, these can be quickly and conveniently inserted into the transfer rail from one end. In the same way as described, the curtain can be transferred from the fixed rail back to the transfer rail, for the purpose of taking down the curtain for washing, for instance.

In the certain circumstances it would even be possible to clean the curtain without taking it off the transfer rail. This can be done if the cleaning operation merely consists in repeatedly dipping the curtain into a cleaning fluid, as in the case of net curtains which do not require ironing after they have been washed.

FIGS. 4 to 11 show the several parts of the transferunit for transferring plastic glide hooks from the transfer rail to the fixed curtain rail. In these FIGS. b, is a casing, which contains a curtail rail 1 of box-shaped longitudinally slotted cross section. FIG. 8 shows the cross section of the transfer rail T, which is identical to that of the rail 1.

FIG. 11 shows the entry opening 1' stamped out of the fixed rail for the insertion thereinto of the transfer unit.

It will be noted that FIG. 4 also shows one screws 2 as well as two glide hooks 3.

It will be noted that in FIG. 9, only part of the transfer rail T, is shown. The device H, in this instance is an integral sheet metal member wherein the resilient portions are hardened. However the element could be an assembly of several parts.

The transfer unit H, comprises a shaft portion, two, deflecting blades and a retaining spring. The shaft is substantially a slotted box section, resembling that of the rail. The outer part 10 of this cross section is adapted to slidably embrace the transfer rail T, with a tight grip (see FIG. 6).

Further inward, at the top illustrated at 11, the edge of the slot is folded back and thus thickened roughly to correspond of the fixing to the cross section of the rail, and at the same time to form a stop 12 which prevents the transfer rail T, too far into the transfer unit.

At the upper end of the transfer unit the shaft has a member 13 comprising two arched blades 14 forming a radius R (FIG. 7) which terminate exactly at the edge of the opening I in the fixed rail.

The ends of the blades 14 are partly flattened at 15 and engage the small faces 16 (FIG. 11). Two slots 17 in the upper part of the transfer unit body out a wider blade 18 out of the back thereof. This blade is arched and hardened to form a spring member. The upper end of the shaft is cut square, and, when the transfer unit has been inserted, this member bears flush against the underside of the faces 19 (FIG. 11) of the rail 1. It will be noted that the spring 18 is narrower than the opening 1, and therefore can easily be pushed through this opening.

from being pushed For fixing the transfer unit H to the rail, the spring blade 18 is first inserted into the opening 1 as illustrated in FIG. 9. The transfer unit H is then forced against the resistance of the spring 18, to the left in the direction of the arrow 20, and in this position it is tilted about the line of contact 21 of its edge with the underside of the rail, until the two flattened portions of the blades 14 are just inside the opening 1'.

If the transfer unit is then released, the spring 18 will hold it in position. The transfer rail T, can now be fitted into the end of the transfer unit and glidehooks carrying the curtain rail can be pushed in one movement from the transfer rail, along the transfer unit, and onto the fixed rail 1. The glide hooks will be guided along the curved path provided by the arched blades 14. Y

FIGS. 12 to 16 illustrate an alternative form of construction ofa transfer unit H, for transferring roller or glide hooks onto a curved rail of I-shaped cross section.

In'this embodiment, and referring to FIG. 12, a rail is fixed to the casing 11, by screws 31. The rail carries roller hooks 32 and two of these are shown in FIG. 12.

The transfer unit H, is attached to the rail 30 and a transfer rail T is fitted to this unit. The transfer unit has two parts. One of these parts 32.is formed from a short length of rail, and the other is a sheet metal sleeve 34, which is hardened to provide springlike resilience. These two parts are connected by a rivet 35.

The meniber 33, consists of a short length of rail. The bottom of this member is' cut off square and at the upper end the web is likewise cut off square. However, the flanges extend beyond the end of the web. The narrow flange 37 projects 4 beyond the web by an amount roughly equal to the thickness of the flange, and centrally it has a slot 38 which in depth extendsto the level of the end of the web.

i The wider flange 40 projects further. It is slotted at 39 and arched to form a two-bladed configuration. The slot 39 ends level with the end of the web 36 and at the junction it is provided with additional transverse slots 41 (FIG, 14) which extend to a depth corresponding to the width of the narrow flange 30 of the rail 30.

The sleeve 34 is shaped from a sheet metal blank, and is bent back on itself (FIG. 15) to receive and grip both the wider flange 40 of the rail portion 33, as well as the web of the transfer rail T, with a tight grip. The sleeve also grips part of the web of these rail portions. The upper portion of the sheet metal sleeve form a two-bladed member 45 and the back thereof forms an additional blade 46, all of which act as springs. All of these members are hardened to provide the required resilience. The blades 45 extend up both sides of the web 36, whereas theblade 46 is positioned on the back of the wider flange behind the two blades 40.

When the transfer unit has been fitted onto the rail, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the slot 38 receives the edge of the web of the fixed rail 30 which crosses the entry opening 30a and is then pressed tightly against the edge of the opening by the two spring blades 45.

The transverse slots 41 in the two blades 40 fit around the narrower flange 30 of the rail, and the spring blade 46 retains the device 112 in this position.

The manner in which the transfer unit is inserted is shown in FIG. 16. The transverse slots 41 are first pushed over the end of the narrow flange 30' at the opening 30a, the device being held as indicated in FIG. l6.

The transfer unit is then tilted about the slots 41 as a fulcrum in the direction of the arrow 50 until the slot 38 engages the edge of the web across the opening in the fixed rail.

The spring blades 45 and 46 will then hold the device in this position. The transfer rail T can now be slidably inserted into the sleeve 34, as indicated in FIG. 12, and the roller hooks holding the curtain can be run in one operation from the transfer rail T into the bottom flange of the fixed rail 30.

While the invention has been described herein, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and that this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or

following in general, the pl'IllCladaptations of the invention ples of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come-within the now known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims. I

What we claim is:

l. A curtain hook transfer unit for placing curtain glide hooks or the like on a fixed curtain rail, comprising:

a. a central body along which a plurality of curtain rail hooks can be moved from end to end;

b. curtain rail engaging means at one end of said member for locking onto the fixed rail and including a resilient element which presses against the fixed curtain rail;

c. the other end of said member being opened and adapted to engage a member carrying a plurality of curtain hooks so that said curtain hooks can be'readily moved onto and along said central body;

d. guide means at the one end of said central body opposite the curtain rail engaging means in registry with and engaging the periphery of a hook-receiving opening in the curtain rail for carrying curtain rail hooks from said central body to said fixed curtain rail, whereby curtain hooks can be quickly moved from said curtain hook carrying member along said central body and said guide means to said fixed curtain rail.

2. The curtain hook transfer unit as set forth in claim I,

wherein:

a. said guide means includes two curved bladelike extensions which arch through an angle approximately and which are engageable by one edge of the hook-receiving opening; and

b. the resilient member includes a spring which bears against the opposite edge of the opening thereby retaining the unit in position. 3. The curtain hook transfer unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. said central body is an elongated hollow sheet metal member having a longitudinal slot extending from end to end and along which said curtain hooks are moved. 

1. A curtain hook transfer unit for placing curtain glide hooks or the like on a fixed curtain rail, comprising: a. a central body along which a plurality of curtain rail hooks can be moved from end to end; b. curtain rail engaging means at one end of said member for locking onto the fixed rail and including a resilient element which presses against the fixed curtain rail; c. the other end of said member being opened and adapted to engage a member carrying a plurality of curtain hooks so that said curtain hooks can be readily moved onto and along said central body; d. guide means at the one end of said central body opposite the curtain rail engaging means in registry with and engaging the periphery of a hook-receiving opening in the curtain rail for carrying curtain rail hooks from said central body to said fixed curtain rail, whereby curtain hooks can be quickly moved from said curtain hook carrying member along said central body and said guide means to said fixed curtain rail.
 2. The curtain hook transfer unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said guide means includes two curved bladelike extensions which arch through an angle approximately 90* and which are engageable by one edge of the hook-receiving opening; and b. the resilient member includes a spring which bears against the opposite edge of the opening thereby retaining the unit in position.
 3. The curtain hook transfer unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said central body is an elongated hollow sheet metal member having a longitudinal slot extending from end to end and along which said curtain hooks are moved. 